Mohammad Rizwan [Source: X.com]A Pakistan player has reacted strongly to Mohammad Rizwan following his controversial comments about PSL franchise Hyderabad Kingsmen. Mohammad Rizwan, known for his blunt and often controversial views, sparked a major debate after making remarks that hinted at a match-fixing–like mindset while discussing playoff scenarios. Notably, The Pakistan Super League 2026 season turned out to be difficult for Mohammad Rizwan and his team Rawalpindiz. The team entered the competition with high expectations as the league expanded to eight teams. Rawalpindiz's performance in PSL 2026However, the results did not meet expectations. Consequently, Rawalpindiz became the first team to be eliminated from the PSL 2026 playoff race. Moreover, their performances remained below standard throughout the tournament. Even after elimination, Rawalpindiz still had an important role in the playoff race. In fact, their final match was against Hyderabad Kingsmen, where two teams were competing for one remaining playoff spot. Hence, the outcome of this match had the potential to influence which team would finish fourth in the standings.At this stage, Mohammad Rizwan made a surprising statement. The former Pakistan captain admitted to trying to play with a match-fixing-like approach and influence the points table. As a result, his remarks quickly gained attention and raised concerns.Mohammad Rizwan’s controversial statement on Hyderabad KingsmenDuring a press conference, Rizwan openly shared his opinion about Hyderabad Kingsmen’s earlier performance. According to him, their display was not strong enough for a playoff position. Consequently, his comments led to criticism from several quarters.“At the start, I wished that Lahore would qualify; there’s a special affection for them, that’s a different matter. During the strategic timeout, I told Usman Khawaja that, considering how Hyderabad played their last match, they don’t deserve it. This could be my wrong thinking as well & I apologise for it,” he said in the presser.Also Read: Pakistan Players Who Might Not Play A T20I Again After PSL 2026Usama Mir responds stronglyFollowing this, Usama Mir, captain of Lahore Qalandars, expressed disappointment over Rizwan’s remarks. He pointed out Rawalpindiz’s poor performance during the season. In addition, he emphasized that the team had lost most of their matches and struggled to compete effectively.In a conversation with Pakistan Passion, Usama Mir shared his reaction:"I was extremely disappointed by his press conference. They themselves haven’t played good cricket, yet they are saying others do not deserve it. I was shocked. Did you deserve it? Who are you to decide that? You go into a press conference and say that team did not deserve it because they got all out for 80. Your own team has been getting bowled out for around 100 throughout the tournament. What kind of remarks are these? First, you played terrible cricket, and then you conduct a press conference as if you have achieved something extraordinary."Watch the video here:Kashif @KashifNdmCric Usama Mir strongly reacts to Mohammad Rizwan's statement on Hyderabad Kingsmen. May 6, 2026, 11:23 AM Mohammad Rizwan’s ongoing strugglesMeanwhile, this was the second consecutive season where a team led by Mohammad Rizwan secured only one win in ten matches. Similarly, last season showed the same record with Multan Sultans. As a result, his leadership and form have come under scrutiny. In terms of individual performance, Rizwan scored 204 runs in 10 matches with an average of 20.40. Furthermore, his form remained inconsistent throughout the tournament. He struggled to build momentum and maintain a strong scoring rate.Also Read: IPL 2026 Playoff Schedule Revealed; These Dates Booked
